Marble game



MARBLE GAME Filed Aug. 4, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 a W x. f

.2 W]. w a k W 6 wh J 8 6 M M N? O o a 2W J #9 0 W V a a 6 6 a J 7 1! aa Dec. 14, 1943. w BLACK ETAL 2,336,773

MARBLE-GAME Filed Aug. 4, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IIIIIIIIIIIIIA m a. A rI 9 a g,

Dec. 14, 1943. W. R. BLACK ETAL MARBLE GAME Filed Aug. 4, 1941 3Sheets-Sheet 3 Paiented Dec. 14, 1943 MARBLE GAME Wiley Roy Biack andJoe G. Kennedy, Spokane, Wash.

4 Claims.

This invention relates to games and more particularly to an improvedmarble game.

One object of the invention is to provide a marble game which will bevery attractive in appearance and which will afford amusement for bothyoung and old.

Another object of the invention is to provide a marble game wherein aplurality of ramps for the marbles is employed, with the result that alarge number of marbles may be put in motion at the same time, thusadding to the attractiveness of the game.

A further object of the invention is to provide a game of this characterwhich will be absolutely harmless.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a marble gamewherein means is employed for permitting convenient return of themarbles to the starting position, after said marbles have dropped to thegame board employed.

And still an other object of the invention is to provide a marble gamehaving a marble wheel for shifting individual marbles from the lower endof the lowermost of the ramps to a position to drop on the game board.

And a further object of the invention. is to provide a machine of thischaracter which employs an improved. trip which is very attractive inappearance.

Further objects of the invention, not specifically mentionedhereinbefore, will become apparent during the course of the followingdescription.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of our improved marble game,

Figure 2 is a top plan view,

Figure 3 is a detail side elevation, partly in section, showing themarble wheel and trip employed,

Figure 4 is a detail side elevation of the trip,

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view on the line 5-5 of Figure 1looking in the direction indicated by the arrows,

Figure 6 is a rear View,

Figure '7 is a detail side elevation showing the marble ramp unit andtrip,

Figure 8 is a detail sectional view showing the marble wheel and gameboard construction,

Figure 9 is a detail top plan view of the game board,

Figure 10 is an enlarged detail sectional view on the line IQ-IU ofFigure '7,

Figure 11 is an enlarged detail sectional view on the line i l-ll ofFigure 3,

Figure 12 is an enlarged detail sectional view on the line l2! 2 ofFigure 7,

Figure 13 is an enlarged detail elevation showing the marble wheel,

Figure 14 is a detail top plan view, on a reduced scale, showing a gameboard of modified construction, and

Figure 15 is a detail vertical sectional View of the game board ofFigure 14.

In the drawings similar numerals of reference are used to designate likeparts throughout the views.

The numeral l indicates in general the frame of our improved marblegame. The frame l includes a ramp unit 2 and a marble wheel unit 3. Theramp unit is best seen in Figures 1, 5 and 7 of the drawings. Byreferring first to these views, it will be seen that the ramp unit 2includes front and rear walls 3 and l which are connected by side walls5 and 6. Mounted in the ramp unit 2 near its upper end and extendingtransversely is a downwardly inclined wall 7 defining a trough. whichcooperates with the front and rear walls 3 and G and the side walls 5and 6 to define a hopper 8. The front wall 5 is cut away to define asight opening 9.

The ramp unit 2 includes a plurality of inclined ramps which areindicated at It, ll, l2, l3 and it. Each of said ramps is preferablyformed from a single board or thickness of material and, in order toprevent marbles from falling off the ramps, each of said ramps is formedalong its outer edge with a flange i5. As best seen in Figure 5, theramps 0 to M are arranged in stepped relation, the ramp l9 having itsupper end communicating with the lower end of the inclined plate 1 andthe plate M having its lower end communicating with the upper end of theuppermost ramp of the second series of ramps to be described in moredetail hereinafter. As will be seen, the ramps extend throughout theentire width of the unit 2 so that marbles passing from the hopper ontothe upper end of the plate l will progress forwardly so that, when theyreach the lower end of the ramp it, they will be disposed in closespaced relation to the side wall 5 Carried by the ramp unit andextending throughout the width thereof are three relatively wide rampsl5, l1 and is which are formed with troughs I9, 20 and 2!, respectively,which troughs are, as best seen in Figure 5, disposed in substantiallyvertical alinement. The ramp l6, ll and it are inclined so that thelower end of the ramp I 6 communicates with the upper end of the rampI1, and the lower end of the ramp l'l communicates with the upper end ofthe ramp la. The lower end of the ramp I8 is disposed at the lower endof the unit 2 and adjacent the lower end of the front wall 3.

It will now be seen that marbles, placed in the hopper 8, will rollalong the ramps Id, H, l2, l3 and I4 and from the ramp I4 said marbleswill drop to the upper end of the ramp It and will roll along the rampsl6, H and it to the lower end of the unit 2. It should be understood, ofcourse, that, at the meeting ends, the flanges l5 of the ramps iii to Mare cut away to permit passage of the marbles from one ramp to the next.Similarly, the troughs l9, 2%? and 2! are each provided, at the meetingends of the ramps l8, H and 8, with openings of a sufficient size topermit the marbles to pass from said ramp E6 to the ramp 1! and, ofcourse, from the ramp H to the ramp [8. As best seen in Figures 5 and11,

the bottom wall of the ramp I3, which bottom wall is indicated at 22, isformed with a relatively wide discharge opening 23 which is located atthe lower end of the trough 2| laterally thereof. The wall 22 is,adjacent the discharge opening downwardly inclined, as shown at 24, toassure that marbles passing from the trough will be allowed to rollfreely through the opening 23.

Mounted on the ramp unit 2 at its forward end is an inverted L-shapedbracket 25, said bracket being bolted or otherwise suitably secured tothe under surface of the wall 22 near the side wall 5. The bracket 25 isformed with a vertically extending leg 25 which is disposed in closespaced relation to the discharge opening 23. Pivotally mounted on theleg 25 of the bracket is a trip 2'l. The trip includes a body 23, in theshape of a chicken, and a gate portion 29 which is formed with anarcuate front edge portion 3%. The gate portion, as best seen in Figure11, eX- tends upwardly into the trough 2! between the open end thereofand the discharge opening 23 for limiting discharge of marbles from thesaid trough 2E. The trip 21, further, is provided with a slightly curvedrear wall 3 l In order to pivotally mount the trip 27 on the leg 2 3, weprovide a pivot bolt 32 having a nut 33 thereon.

The marble wheel unit 3 is mounted below the ramp unit and, in fact,supports said ramp unit in operative position. Said marble wheel unitincludes a bottom wall or base 34 and a rear wall 35. Closing the sidesof the marble wheel unit are side walls 3 5 and 3'? which walls are cutaway as desired to add to the ornamentation of the machine and to permitobservation of the marble wheel to be described hereinafter.

The marble wheel is indicated generally by the numeral 38 and includes abody 39 and face pla es id and ll. The body 39 is formed with cut awayportions which have mouths disposed on the periphery of the wheel andcooperate with the face plates at and ll to define pockets 42. As willbe seen in Figure 8, the pockets increase in depth toward theircorresponding forward ends. As shown in Figure 8, the wheel is providedwith three of the pockets 42. However, it should be understood that asmany pockets as are desired may be employed. Carried on the wheel 38 andextending laterally from the plate 435 thereof are spaced pins d3 whichare three in number. That is to say, one of the pins is provided foreach of the pockets 52. As shown, the pins are mounted substantiallymid-way between the pockets and also substantially mid-way of the radiusof the wheel.

The marble wheel 38 is rotatably mounted between the walls 3.6 and 3'!and beneath the discharge opening 23 by a shaft 4%, said shaft having'its opposite ends journaled in bearings 25 in said side walls 35 and 5?.The shaft is connected with the wheel by means of bosses it which arescrewed or otherwise suitably secured to the axle portion of the wheel.As best seen in Figure 5, the wheel is disposed so that its perimeterwill be disposed in close spaced relation to the discharge opening 23and so that the trip 27 will be disposed in close spaced relation to theface plate 59. It will now be seen that, when the wheel 38 is rotated,the pins d3 will contact the curved rear wall 3| of the trip 2'3 forshifting the trip about the pivot bolt 32. When this is done, the gateportion 29 of the trip is swung for permitting a marble, a typical oneof which is shown at 4?, to roll along the inclined wall 255 and dropthrough the discharge opening 23 and into one of the pockets E2 in thewheel.

Our improved marble game includes a game board unit which is showngenerally by the numeral 48. The game board unit includes side members419 and iii] and board mounting studs 5i and 53. Mounted on the studs 5!and 52 between the side members is a base board 53, and hingedlyconnected to the rear end of said board is a game board 54. As will beseen clearly in Figures 8 and 9, the boards 53 and 51 have rearwardlyextending portions 55 which are connected by a hinge ii for establishingthe hinged connection hereinbefore mentioned. As will also be seen, thestud 52 is disposed slightly higher than the stud 51 with the resultthat the boards 53 and 54 will be inclined downwardly toward theirforward ends. Mounted on the board 54 near its forward end andsubstantially medially of its length is a knob 5'! which is adapted formanual engagement when it is desired to swing the board 54 upwardly withrespect to the board 53, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 8. The boardE l is provided with a plurality of openings 58 which are of a size toreceive the marbles M and, when the board is raised, to permit saidmarbles to pass therethrough. The openings are arranged as shown inFigure 9 and each of the openings may be indicated by a number so that,when the marbles are in position a score may be added.

As shown at 59, the forward end of the game board unit 58 is providedwith a discharge opening, blocks 6 being disposed at each side of saidopening to guide marbles therethrough. Normally mounted adjacent thedischarge opening 59 is a marble receptacle 6! which is provided with aninclined bottom wall 52, side walls 63 and an upwardly and forwardlyinclined front wall 86. The receptacle El is open at its rear andnormally has said open rear end disposed adjacent the mouth 59 so thatmarbles passing through the mouth will roll into the receptacle from thebase board 63, when the game board 5% is raised.

It is desired to point out that, as shown at ($5, the side members 4%!and 5&1 have their rear ends curved so as to mate with curved portions58 of the side walls 36 and 31. In addition, the forward end of the base34 engages beneath the stud 52 for firmly yet removably retaining thegame board unit in operative position with respect to the marble wheelunit.

In operation, marbles are first placed in the hopper 8 and on the platedefining the trough l. The marbles will roll onto the ramps l8, H, E2,E3 and i4 and from said ramps to the ramps l6, ll and I8. When all ofthe marbles have been placed in the hopper and have rolled down theramps, the marble wheel 38 is partially rotated manually. When this isdone, the pin l-S will contact the curved wall 3! of the trip 2? forswinging the trip forwardly and thus rocking the gate portion thereofrearwardly for allowing passage of one marble through the dischargeopening. When the gate portion has been moved out of obstructingposition, the pocket 32 rearwardly of the trip latching pin will bedisposed beneath the discharge opening 23 so that the marble will dropinto the pocket. The weight of the marble in th pocket will cause themarble wheel 35 to swing downwardly with the result that the next pinwill again actuate the trip for permitting another marble to drop intothe next preceding pocket. As the wheel rotates, the pockets will beshifted downwardly to permit the marbles to be discharged onto theplaying board 5 3. The marbles will, of course, roll along the board andwill either drop into one of the openings 53 or will pass through thedischarge 5% into the receptacle 6?. It will be understood that thewheel will rotate as long as there are marbles in the ramps. After allthe marbles have been discharged onto the playing board and the scoreshave been added up, the board 54 is swung up wardly for releasing themarbles from the openings. Said marbles will thus roll through theopening 5i: into the receptacle 6d. The receptacle may be lifted clearof the board unit and raised to the top of the device for dischargingthe marbles into the hopper 8.

By way of further explanation, it is desired to state that, when anumber of persons desire to play the game, each player takes six marblesof one color. The marbles are mixed and placed in the hopper 8 and thenthe wheel is started. A player whose mar les fall into the openingsadding to the highest score wins the game. Alternatively, the player whohas the most marbles in the openings 58 wins.

In Figures 14 and 15, we have shown a slightly modified embodiment ofgame board unit. In these figures, the numeral 6? indicates an inclinedboard which is provided with a flat unobstructed upper surface. Theboard 6? is inclined toward its forward end and is provided with atongue 63 which is disposable beneath the wheel 33. At its lower end,the board is provided with a curved end wall 89 and beneath said endwall with a stud it. Side members ll close the sides of the unit and areprovided with curved rear walls 72 to cooperate with the curved portion65. A stud E3 is mounted beneath the rear end of the board 61 forproviding the necessary support. It is to be noted that, in thisembodiment of game board unit, no separate receptacle is provided. Also,the board is not formed to define a playing surface. This particularembodiment of the invention is particularly adapted for use by smallchildren and others who are not interested in attaining a high score butare merely interested in watching the marbles roll on the ramps, and inwatching the wheel rotate in response to marbles dropping into thepockets 52 thereof.

The surfaces or the plates at di may be suitably ornamented as may bethe entire machine. As shown in Figures 1 and 3, the surface of theplate ll? is ornamented with ears of corn so that, when the wheel isrotating, the chicken, shifting back and forth, simulates movement of alive bird eating corn.

The invention is characterized mainly by its attractiveness and utility.It will be particularly attractive to young children.

In view of the fact that the ramp unit, marble game unit and game boardunit are detachably connected, the device may be readily taken down whenis desired to transport it from place to place.

It is thought that further description is unnecessary.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In a marble game, a marble wheel mounted for rotation in a verticalplane and including a body having a plurality of pockets, face platescarried by the body and at said pockets, said pockets increasing indepth toward their forward ends, and means for rotatably connecting themarble wheel to a frame, said pockets being adapted to receiveselectively a marble, the Weight of said marble moving the Wheel to aposition for discharging said marble.

2. In a marble game having a hopper and a ramp and provided with gamepieces movable from the hopper along the ramp; a wheel rotatably mountedbelow the ramp and provided with marble receiving pockets and havingpins projecting from a face thereof, one of said pins being disposedbetween adjacent pockets, a trip pivotally mounted below the ramp andmovable upon engagement by a pin from a position limiting movement of agame piece from the ramp to a position releasing said game piece to fromsaid ramp.

3. In a marble game as recited in claim 2, wherein said trip consists ofa substantially plate including a body and a gate portion, said bodybeing engageable by one of said pins and said gate portion normallyconfronting a portion of the ramp.

4. In a marble game having a frame, hopper and ramp and provided withgame pieces movable from the hopper along the ramp; a marble wheelrotatable on the frame, a trip on the frame beneath the ramp andengageable by the game pieces, and means carried by the marble wheel forreleasing the trip upon rotation of said wheel whereby a game piece willfall into the marble wheel.

JOE G. KENNEDY. WILEY ROY BLACK.

